Ski binding

ABSTRACT

This ski binding device of the toe or heel hold-down type comprises a member for clamping or holding the toe end or the heel of the ski boot against any undesired upward movement, said member being movable vertically upwards on its support and adapted to be shifted in this direction by means of a vertically movable adjustment member on which said clamping or holding member bears in the downward direction. A resilient element is interposed between an adjustment member and the clamping or holding member so as to constantly urge this last-named member downwards. In combination therewith, a position indicator associated with said adjustment member or said clamping or holding member is adapted to signal any relative upward shifting of said clamping or holding member in relation to the body of said device, against the force of said resilient element.

[4 1 Sept. 30, 1975 SKI BINDING Inventor: Jean Joseph Alfred Beyl, Boulevard Victor Hugo, 58 Nevers, France Filed: Jan. 27, 1975 Appl. No.: 544,114

Primary E.\'aminerRobert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or FirmBierman & Bierman 57 ABSTRACT This ski binding device of the toe or heel hold-down type comprises a member for clamping or holding the toe end or the heel of the ski boot against any undesired upward movement, said member being movable vertically upwards on its support and adapted to be shifted in this direction by means of a vertically movable adjustment member on which said clamping or holding member bears in the downward direction. A resilient element is interposed between an adjustment member and the clamping or holding member so as to constantly urge this last-named member downwards. in combination therewith, a position indicator associated with said adjustment member or said clamping or holding member is adapted to signal any relative upward shifting of said clamping or holding member in relation to the body of said device, against the force of said resilient element.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 24- 18 23 ha I 1'1 19 l 1 41 x l ,4 F

' US. Patent 56 0301975 sheetzom 3,909,030

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,909,030

Fig.4

35 34: 33 ILE ZE) SKI BINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to ski bindings, such as toe or heel hold-down devices, which comprise-essentially a jaw or retaining member adjustable in the vertical direction for clamping the sole or heel of the corresponding ski boot. In this respect it may be noted that the term jaw is used throughout the following disclosure witha view to simplify the wording, but it will readily occur to those conversant with the art that this specific member may also have a shape other than that -of a jaw.

2. Description of the Prior Art Due to variations in the thicknesses of soles and boots it is obviously necessary to provide in ski bindings the possibility of adjusting the retaining jaw in the vertical direction.

In certain known ski bindings the jaw is pivotally mounted on its support at its end remote from the location of the corresponding boot part, and a member for adjusting the jaw in the vertical direction is provided either on said pivotal mounting or at any other suitable location. The arrangement is such that this adjustment member can determine the position of the corresponding jaw by bearing thereon.

However, these devices are objectionable in that the skier might compress abnormally the sole or heel portion of the boot against the top surface of the ski without his being aware of it. In fact, it is a frequent occurrence that, during an adjustment operation, the operator moves the adjustment member beyond the position necessary and sufficient for taking up a possible play between the jaw or other retaining member and the skiboot sole or heel.

In this case, the boot is pressed against the ski surface, so that considerable friction develops between the boot and the ski, or between the boot and the binding member, during the operation of the device tending to release the boot. As a result, an interference particularly detrimental to the proper operation of the device is observed, and this operation is obviously impaired or disturbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore the essential object of this invention to avoid the above-described inconvenience by providing a device of the type broadly set forth in the foregoing and characterised in that a resilient element is interposed between the jaw or other boot-holding member and the corresponding bearing member, and that an indicator member, adapted to signal any movement or shifting of the jaw or other holding member in relation to the bearing member and against the force of said resilient element, is also provided.

According to a particularly simple yet. efficient form of embodiment of this device, the bearing member engaging the holding jaw or like member constitutes at the same time the member for adjusting this holding jaw or like member in the vertical direction in relation to the boot.

In this arrangement, the bearing member comprises an indicator element adapted to signal any relative movement or shift between this member and the. jaw or other holding member. This indicator member may advantageously consist of 'a'visual mark adapted to move in relation to a reference mark or scale provided on the holding jaw or like member.

In a modified form of embodiment of this device the holding or retaining jaw or like member comprises an indicator member adapted to signal visually any relative movement or shift between the bearing member and the holding or retaining member or jaw.

Another advantageous arrangement consists in providing on said indicator member a visual mark adapted to display the state or degree of compression of the resilient element interposed between the bearing member and the holding jaw or like member.

However other advantages and specific features characterising the device of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the attached drawing given by way of illustration, not of limitation, and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section showing a toe holddown device of a safety ski binding according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary longitudinal sections showing diagrammatically three other forms of embodiment of the same device;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a heel hold-down device of a ski binding according to this invention, and

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing a modified form of embodiment of the structure shown in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As already mentioned in the foregoing the device illustrated in FIG. 1- is a toe hold-down device of a safety ski binding. This device comprises a hollow cylindrical member 1 having a vertical axis 5 andrigid with a base plate 2 adapted to be secured to the top surface S of the ski by means of screws. The body 3 of the hold-down device is rotatably mounted to this cylindrical member 1 in a plane parallel to the ski surface. The rotation of said body 3 in relation to the cylindrical member 1 can take place only against the resistance of a resilient mechanism. This mechanism may consist for example of a ball 4 guided radially in relation to the axis 5 of cylindrical member 1 due to its engagement in a hole 6 formed in the side wall of said cylindrical member 1. A tapered or frustoconical member 8 urged upwards in a direction parallel to said axis 5 by a coil compression spring 9 causes said ball 4 to engage likewise a V- shaped notch 7 formed in said cylindrical body 1. The force of spring 9 may be adjusted by means of a screw 10 engaging a bottom plug 11 so as to compress more or less said spring 9 between the plug 11 and tapered member 8. The screw 10 is rotatably mounted in said cylindrical member 1 but prevented from sliding axially therein by virtue of a relatively thick washer 12 reacting against the top of said cylindrical member 1.

Preferably, this Washer 12 constitutes a worm meshing with an indicator member 13 guided in said body 3 or in an insert 14 fitted in said body 3 so that on the one hand it can be seen'from the outside through a window 15 formed in said body 3 or through a cover 16 also fitted in said body 3, and on the other hand said-indicator member 13 has its endxadjacent the axis 5 formed with a contour consistent with the worm-like profile of washer 12. This indicator member 13 may advantageously consist of strip-like member of a suitable plastic material with one end and one side provided with notches 13a constituting teeth engaging said worm 12 due to the curvature imposed to this member 13 by its guide race or cavity formed in said body 3 and/or in the insert 14.

Therefore, the rotation of screw 10 is attended by a variation in the compression of spring 9 and the degree of adjustment selected by the operator is displayed by the indicator member 13 registering with reference marks visible through said window 15. Thus, the resistance transmitted by ball 4 against a rotation of said body 3 about the cylindrical member 1 can be set at will.

Pivoted to said body 3 about a pin 17a perpendicular to said axis 5 and transverse to the ski axis (not shown) is a jaw or like member 17 adapted to clamp or hold down the sole of the corresponding ski boot, by engaging the toe end of said boot in order to centre same and hold same against both vertical and lateral movements in relation to the ski. To this end, the jaw 17 advantageously provided with a free passage for the screw (intended for adjusting the retaining force of the safety binding) is retained on said body 3 by a screw 18 engaging a tapped hole formed in said body 3.

The jaw 17 comprises a bore 19 through which the screw. 18 extends freely. This bore 19 has a bottom shoulder 20 engageable by an annular portion of said screw 18. Preferably, this annular portion consists of a circlip fitted in a circular groove formed in the shank of said screw 18.

At its upper portion the bore 19 has an extension 22 of greater diameter constituting a seat 23 for a resilient elementengaging the head 25 of screw 18 from beneath. In the form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 this resilient element consists of a helical or coil compression spring 24.

It isclear that rotating the screw 18 in the bore of said body 3 will lower or raise the jaw 17 driven in the upward direction by the annular portion 21 of screw 18 and in the downward direction by the screw head 25 with the interposition of said resilient element 24.

Whereas the vertical adjustment of the jaw 17 in the upward direction is not attended by any difficulty whatsoever, the adjustment in the downward direction may lead to an undesired tightening of the boot sole between the jaw 17 and the top surface of the ski and/or a slip device (not shown) forming an insert on said top surface. In fact, in actual practice it was found that such tightening may take place inopportunely and very easily, so to say at random. To prevent such untimely and improper tightening the head 25 of screw 18 may be so proportioned as to project above the top surface of jaw 17 by a distance 26 (FIG. 1) for a normal and desired vertical adjustment of said jaw in relation to the boot sole. I

Whenas a'consequence of an excessive downward movement ofjaw 17, an effort F is exerted on this jaw 17 by the boot sole, the shoulder 20 tends to rise in relation to the annular portion 21 of screw 18 by compressing the resilient element 24 and sinking more or less the screw head 25 into the widened portion 22 of bore '19. This is attended by a reduction in said distance 26, thus warning theskier that the jaw 17 isnot properly adjusted so that he/she can correct this adjustment to ensure a proper operation of the safety binding.

FIG. 2 illustrates diagrammatically a typical embodiment of the means for displaying the proper vertical adjustment of the jaw 17 in relation to the boot sole. In this case, a indicator index 27 is interposed between the intermediate resilient element (consisting in this example of a pad 24 of suitable elastomer) and the head 25 of screw 18. Normally this indicator index 27 registers with a reference mark 28 carried by the jaw 17. Thus, when a force F is exerted on this jaw 17 as a consequence of the compression of the boot sole between the jaw 17 and the underlying ski surface, the resilient element 24 is compressed and the reference mark 28 moves away from the indicator index 27, thus signalling a faulty adjustment that must be modified or corrected.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 the adjustment indicator comprises a lateral or diametral pin 29 having its inner end embedded in the outer periphery of an elastic pad 24. Thus, the distortion of this pad 24 by a compression due to a force F exerted on jaw 17 causes the free or outer end of pin 29 to pass through a suitable aperture 30 formed in the jaw 17 and to emerge somewhat from the outer edge of this aperture 30.

Under normal conditions the free end of pin 29 is flush with said outer edge of aperture 30, but in'case of distortion of said elastic pad 24 (shown in dash lines) the pin 30 projects from said outer edge, thus indicating a faulty adjustment of the jaw 17.

In the alternate form of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 the indicator member consists of a deformable tongue 31 having one end secured in a circular groove 32 of screw 18. On the other hand, this tongue is guided in a guide way 33 formed in the jaw 17 so that its opposite end be visible and can move past a window 34 so that the operator can check the proper, lowcompression adjustment of the jaw due to the provision of an indicator index 35 registering with a fixed reference mark (not shown). As in the other forms of embodiment this indicator index 35 moves away from the fixed reference mark when a force F is exerted on jaw 17 and causes a certain distortion of the elastic element Of course, this invention should not be construed as being strictly limited by the specific forms of embodiment described hereinabove constituting toe hold down devices of safety ski bindings. Thus, the means indicating a proper adjustment may also be applied to a heel hold-down device of which only the elements necessary for a clear understanding of this invention are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5.

In this Figure, the body 36 of this heel hold-down device of a safety ski binding is suitably pivoted to a base member rigid with the ski and movable in relation to this base member in order to provide the desired and suitable heel release. The body 36 comprises a suitable guide member having for example a dovetail contour permitting the vertical movement of a support 37 on this body 36. On the other hand, this support 37 is adapted to properly guide in a substantially vertical direction a claw 38 constituting a hold-down member properly adapted to clamp the heel of the ski boot.

The vertical guiding and adjustment of this claw 38 in said support 37 are obtained in a well-known manner by means of a screw or screw-threaded rod (of which only the axis is shown at 39 for the sake of clarity in the drawing). Between said support 37 and said body 36 a resilient or elastic element 40 is interposed in such a manner that any movement of support 37 within said body 36 can take place only against the force of said resilient or elastic element 40.

In order to indicate the proper adjustment position, the support 37 carries an indicator member 41 consisting in this case of a vertical pin extending through a suitable hole formed in said body 36 so that under normal adjustment conditions the upper end of pin 41 be flush with the top edge of said hole, that is, when no compressive effort is exerted on the sole clamped between the claw 38 and the ski surface. However, when the sole is compressed to such a degree that a force F is exerted on said claw 38, the resilient or elastic element 40 is distorted to cause the indicator member 41 to emerge from the hole of body 36 and thus signal an abnormal state of compression that should possibly be modified.

To this end, the indicator member 41 may comprise well-defined sections 42, 43 and 44 displaying the momentary degree of compression of the sole between said claw 38 and the ski surface, for in certain cases this compression may be desirable and advantageous; especially in the case of a heel hold-down device, in order to ensure a proper holding of the boot on the ski.

It will readily occur to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be brought to the forms of embodiment shown and described herein without departing from the basic principles of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A safety ski binding device comprising in combination a main body, means for clamping the sole or heel of the ski boot so as to hold same in the vertical direction, said means being mounted for vertical movement on said main body, an adjustment member for modifying at will the position of said clamping means in the vertical direction, bearing means for providing bearing surfaces in the downward direction for said clamping means, a resilient element acting in the opposite direction on said clamping means in order to urge same downwards, and position indicator means for indicating any relative upward movementof said clamping means in relation to the body of said binding device against the force of said resilient element.

2. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bearing means are carried by said adjustment member and said clamping means is movable in the reverse upward direction in relation to said adjustment member, upper shoulder means being provided on said adjustment member, said resilient element being interposed between said adjustment member and said upper shoulder means of said adjustment member.

3. A safety ski binding as set forth in claim 2, wherein said main body comprises a cavity opening upwardly and said position indicator means comprise an upper head of said adjustment member, said head in the normal adjustment condition projecting at least partially above said cavity.

4. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a fixed reference mark associated with said adjustment member, and a movable indicator index carried by said holding member and registering with said fixed reference mark.

5. A safety ski binding as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a movable indicator index adapted to be shifted as a consequence of the compression of said resilient element.

6. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a flexible tongue having one end anchored to said adjustment member and the other end provided with a movable indicator index.

7. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a support movable vertically, at least in the upward direction, in relation to said main body, and on which said clamping means itself is adjustable in the vertical direction, said resilient element being interposed between said movable support and port and movable in relation to said body. 

1. A safety ski binding device comprising in combination a main body, means for clamping the sole or heel of the ski boot so as to hold same in the vertical direction, said means being mounted for vertical movement on said main body, an adjustment member for modifying at will the position of said clamping means in the vertical direction, bearing means for providing bearing surfaces in the downward direction for said clamping means, a resilient element acting in the opposite direction on said clamping means in order to urge same downwards, and position indicator means for indicating any relative upward movement of said clamping means in relation to the body of said binding device against the force of said resilient element.
 2. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bearing means are carried by said adjustment member and said clamping means is movable in the reverse upward direction in relation to said adjustment member, upper shoulder means being provided on said adjustment member, said resilient element being interposed between said adjustment member and said upper shoulder means of said adjustment member.
 3. A safety ski binding as set forth in claim 2, wherein said main body comprises a cavity opening upwardly and said position indicator means comprise an upper head of said adjustment member, said head in the normal adjustment condition projecting at least partially above said cavity.
 4. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a fixed reference mark associated with said adjustment member, and a movable indicator index carried by said holding member and registering with said fixed reference mark.
 5. A safety ski binding as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a movable indicator index adapted to be shifted as a consequence of the compression of said resilient element.
 6. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said position indicator means comprise a flexible tongue having one end anchored to said adjustment member and the other end provided with a movable indicator index.
 7. A safety ski binding device as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a support movable vertically, at least in the upward direction, in relation to said main body, and on which said clamping means itself is adjustable in the vertical direction, said resilient element being interposed between said movable support and said main body, said position indicator means consisting of an indicator element rigid with said movable support and movable in relation to said body. 